Guide To Laying On Paving Slabs
For the purposes of this guide we laid some old paving slabs. As you can see we deliberately laid them off level to be like a typical old patio.
The total time for this project including cleaning, laying, cutting and sealing was three hours for one man.
All the tools and accessories shown in this guide are available in our online shop at competitive prices.
Before Ordering
Before ordering your tiles it is important to measure your area accurately. When calculating the number of tiles required it is always a good idea to order some extra in case a mistake is made when cutting etc. If at any point you are unsure how many tiles to order you can email your dimensions and we will help.
Striated, Checkerplate and Imperial tiles are 11 per m2 and Riven are 12 per m2. If you think your area will require a lot of cuts, again order slightly more (5%).
Make sure you calculate how much Adhesive you will require. One bottle will lay 45 - 50 tiles. Always better to have some left over than have to pay for more to be delivered.
If your paving slabs are particularly uneven you will have to level them to within a 6mm tolerance. This can be done using our slab lifters. Simply use the end of the lifter to remove any dirt between the slabs, insert the lifter and twist until under the slab. This allows you to lift the slab and add or remove sand underneath to level. If you have to lift the full slab out we recommend using two people(four slab lifters). Make sure the slab is properly supported before putting hands underneath.
As shown in the picture we had no small or awkward cuts. If you lay your tiles out loose to find you need to cut tiles to less than 1/4 of their normal size it may be better to start from another position.
We recommend that you do not lay cuts of less than a quarter tile unless completely necessary.
Applying PU Adhesive
Overlay Tiles PU Adhesive is supplied in 1 litre bottles. One bottle will fix 40-50 tiles.
The PU Adhesive absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and expands to support the tile evenly and to provide a very strong adhesion to the surface being covered.
Before using the PU Adhesive it is very important to read the instructions on the bottle.
The nozzle of the bottle should be cut to give the correct size of bead for the adhesive. A 3mm bead is recommended.
The adhesive should be applied in three zig zag patterns as shown in the picture above. This ensures that the tile is supported evenly across all four corners.
When applying the adhesive try to leave approximately 20mm between the edge of the tile and the bead of the adhesive. You will quickly get the feel for how much adhesive to apply to the tile.
PU adhesive can be applied in damp conditions but not when standing water of any amount is present.
Tiles should be laid with a 2mm gap between each tile. This can be achieved by using our 2mm spacers available in our shop section.
Do not apply adhesive in temperatures under 5 degrees. Tiles should not be disturbed during the curing process as adhesion may be lost.
Replace the cap on the bottle to store but expel as much air from the bottle as possible.
Allow a minimum of 24 hours for PU adhesive to cure.
Do not walk on tiles that have been laid recently.
Using Soft Shims
Soft Shims are 3mm thick rubber spacers.They are sticky on both sides for ease of use. The shims are used to take up unevenness in the surface the tiles are being laid on.
Before applying PU Adhesive you should lay the tile in position and check to see if it rocks. If the tile rocks more than 2mm it is will require some soft shims.
As you can see from the picture above the slab on the left is lower than the slab on the right. Apply the soft shims as shown to allow both tiles to rest on them.
Apply slightly more adhesive to the area of the tile that has been built up and lay on the surface. The next tile can also be laid, apply more shims where required. This process should be repeated throughout your project.
The adhesive will now expand to take up the unevenness and support the tile as required.
We recommend that you use no more than two shims together(6mm).
If a tile rocks very slightly(less than 2mm movement)then the adhesive will expand and take up the unevenness without the use of soft shims.
The more care you take applying the shims the better you layout will look when completed.
Project Progress
The time taken to lay the tiles without cuts was almost exactly 1 hour. This equates to roughly 1.5 minutes per tile.
Cutting Tiles
Safety is very important when cutting tiles. You must use the following items of PPE, Gloves, Dust Mask and Safety Glasses. If you are using a grinder check that a safety guard is present and that it is in the correct position.
Before cutting any tiles it is important to measure accurately what size of tile is required. The simplest way to do this is to measure from each end of the tile to the edge of the surface, Remember to subtract 2mm from you measurements to include for the gap between each tile. Mark these sizes on the tile to be cut and draw a line between them.
Tiles can be cut easily using a grinder with a diamond blade. Place the tile on a hard surface or workbench and cut as shown above. You can also use a motorised tile cutter if you have one. Make sure a diamond tip blade has been installed.
When you have cut the tile you may want to sand the cut edge slightly to take away the right angled edge. This can be done using carborundum paper.
Project Progress
To cut and lay the cut tiles took 1 hour 10 mins. Roughly 5 minutes per cut tile.
Removing Excess PU Adhesive
If you apply to much adhesive it may foam up between the tiles. The most important thing to do is to leave it until it has cured. If you try to clean it off when wet it will stain.
When it has cured it can simply be removed using a knife as shown above.
Sealing Tiles
Overlay Tiles Sealant helps to prevent stains such as foodstuffs, oils and algae growth, it also enhances the look of the tiles.
Overlay tiles do not have to be sealed, it is simply an option that is available.
The sealant is supplied in 1 litre bottles. One bottle should be sufficient for 50 - 70 tiles dependant on amount applied.
Simply decant the sealant into a jug or similar and apply to tiles as shown above using a soft brush. As the sealant dry's keep brushing it so as to clear the small puddles of sealant which dries, appearing on the tiles.
You may want to apply two coats for extra protection and shine.
Allow 24 hours to dry and do not apply in temperatures below 5 degrees.
Total time to seal our demo area was 50 mins, roughly 1 minute per tile.
Project Completion
Total time to complete was 3 hours and I am sure you will agree it looks excellent.